Breast Elevation

Breast elevation or mastopexy is a surgical procedure that seeks to return the breast tissue to a higher position in the chest wall. Dr. Bravo performs a mastopexy technique in which the goal is not simply to elevate the breast, but to achieve a more pleasing and aesthetic shape of the breast.

Possible candidates for this procedure would be:

• Young women who are not satisfied with the way their breast looks, not because of their size but because of their shape: cases of breast or areola asymmetry, tuberous breast deformity (being narrow at the base with an excessively dilated areola), which may present, congenitally, since adolescence.
• Women after over 30-35 years old, whose breasts have changed considerably after the years (involutional or deflated breasts, ptotic or fallen breasts, breasts with skin stretch marks…), due to different factors such as abrupt weight changes, pregnancy and lactation, or simple due to aging.

The technique

The procedure, performed either under local anesthesia and deep sedation or under general anesthesia, consists in the reshaping of the patient’s own breast tissue. It is carried out through an incision around the areola, in order to eliminate the skin lying above it, up to the point were the new areola position will be raised. In certain cases, if there is a considerable amount of skin that needs to be discarded, the incision needs to be extended to the inframammary fold, with or without a short horizontal scar placed in the fold.

The next step is to “mold” the breast tissue until the desired shape is achieved. Before the final skin closure, the patient is seated in the OR table in order to evaluate the shape and position of both breasts in a vertical position.

Finally, the necessary touch-ups are performed to achieve the required size and shape of the areola and nipple, adjusting them precisely to the patient’s breast volume. The incisions are closed with internal stitches resistant to tension, which make the wounds heal with minimal scarring.

In certain cases and always in agreement with the patient, a small implant may be placed to improve the shape of the breast, when there is not enough breast tissue to work with. In any case, the goal of the procedure is always to achieve a more aesthetic breast and not simply to augment its volume.

Recovery and post-operative period

After the procedure, the patient is required to stay one night in the hospital, since drains are left in place after the surgery and may usually be removed the following morning.

The patient may shower and even cleanse her wounds the day after surgery, due to the application of a biologic glue that acts as a water-resistant dressing.

The use of a bra to provide pressure night and day is advised for two weeks. Usually it is possible to return to a normal lifestyle (except for intense exercise) after 48 hours.

The results are permanent, although exceptionally certain patients with extreme tissue laxity may require a re-operation in the long run due to further downward migration of the breast.